Skip to content

Blue Eyed Bisque Porcelain Doll

Shared by
Western Bay Museum

Because it has parts made of bisque porcelain, this pretty blue-eyed doll was probably meant to be a collector’s item rather than a toy. It has however been carefully played with dressed as is it in knitted clothes that are apart from its singlet and bonnet not original to it. Little shoes and fabric drawers do appear to be original. Its blond hair under the bonnet is in slight disarray. Doll collecting has a long history, starting with clay dolls in ancient Egypt. In the Middle Ages, wooden dolls were used for religious purposes. By the 19th century, dolls were mass-produced, and by the 20th century, collecting dolls became a popular hobby. Bisque is unglazed porcelain, dolls made of this had a matte finish that made them look more lifelike. They became popular in the mid-1800s and were seen as more realistic than glazed dolls. Researched by Jeanette Shepherd.

Ngā whakamārama -
Details

  • Title

    Blue Eyed Bisque Porcelain Doll

  • Maker

    Unknown

  • Date made

    Unknown

  • Subject

    Childhood, Toys

  • Additional information

    Processed material, Porcelain Processed material, Textile, Leather Processed material, Textile

  • Rights

    All rights reserved

  • View source record for this item

    https://ehive.com/collections/4456/objects/2139982

Kei hea tēnei taonga? -
Where is this item held?

Western Bay Museum

Whare taonga | Organisation

Western Bay Museum

Ngā here ki runga i ngā whakaahua o tēnei taonga? -
What can you do with images of this item?

  • You must check with Western Bay Museum to confirm terms of use and any attribution requirements, but this is our understanding:

  • Use for private study, research, criticism, review, or education

    NZ Copyright law allows for the use of copyrighted works in specific circumstances. Consider what you can do under copyright law.

  • No sharing

    You can't share this image without futher permission.

  • No modifying

    You can't modify, remix or add to this image without further permission.

  • No commercial use

    You can't use this image to make money.

  • Text adapted with permission from Te Papa and Digital NZ

Tāpirihia he kōrero anō -
Improve this record

  • Can you help us? Share names, details and stories to help enrich the collection.

    Contact contributor